DETROIT, March 10, 2015 — The Department of English and Modern Languages at Marygrove College has just completed the judging for the fifth year of the Mary Helen Washington Writing Award Contest, offered in conjunction with its Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series (CAALS). Named after nationally-renowned scholar, editor, essayist, and teacher Dr. Mary Helen Washington, and supported through the generosity of series sponsors Lillian and Don Bauder, this annual contest asks students to write essays in response to the works of the CAALS guest artist, which this year is writer and journalist Andrea Lee. Students were asked to present a critical analysis of Lee’s work or offer personal reflections on an aspect of her work that the student writer found significant.

The College is pleased to congratulate the 2015 winners, listed below with their schools:

First Prize:

McKenna Voss of Ferndale High School for her essay titled “My Roots Like to Roam.”

Second Prize (three winners):

Isobel Edwards of Ferndale High School for her essay titled “Identity.”

Emily Cole of Ferndale High School for her essay titled “Family Ties, Everlasting Home, and Definitions in “Anthropology.”

Shannon Gardner from Ferndale High School for her essay titled “A Relationship between Past and Present.”

Honorable Mentions (three winners):

Abdul Mahbub from Cass Technical High School for his essay titled “Helping Hands.”

Sakila Islam of Detroit International Academy for her poem titled “My Sisters Hide Knives in Their Mouths.”

Serene Abdouni from Fordson High School for her essay titled ‘Culture and Heritage.”

The first and second-prize winners will receive their certificates of achievement and awards, and the students receiving honorable mentions will receive their certificates of achievement at the Master Class with Andrea Lee on April 17.

This year marks the 27th Anniversary of the Bauder Contemporary American Authors Lecture, and features a reading and book signing by Ms. Lee, which will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 17, in Alumnae Hall on the Marygrove College campus. The event is free and open to the public.

### ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1905, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning. The College’s commitment to the city of Detroit comprises an institutional mission and vision for developing urban leaders. The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit. 8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221www.marygrove.edu

Marygrove College and Gesu Catholic Church to host free tax foreclosure workshops

DETROIT, March 10, 2015— The Marygrove College Institute for Detroit Studies and Gesu Catholic Church are collaborating to host two free tax foreclosure workshops for Detroit and Wayne County residents. The first will be this Saturday, March 14, from 1-4 p.m. in the Main Dining Hall of the Madame Cadillac Building at Marygrove College, 8425 West McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48221. The second will be on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Social Hall of Gesu Catholic School, 17139 Oak Drive, Detroit, MI 48221.

Counseling will be provided by staff members from the United Community Housing Coalition and Michigan Legal Services. Marygrove students and Gesu parishioners are among the volunteers coordinating these workshops.

Although these workshops are intended for residents of the northwest Detroit communities near Marygrove and Gesu, any Wayne County residents who are facing foreclosure may attend. They should bring the following documents with them:

A copy of the deed or lease (if available)

A driver’s license or state identification card

A recent DTE bill, phone bill, or other letter with the resident’s name and address on it

Any and all correspondence from Wayne County

Of the 97,000 Wayne County properties subject to foreclosure this year, 62,000 are located in the city of Detroit; of these, more than 50,000 are occupied. Twenty-thousand more are in reversion (again in foreclosure after being bought at previous tax auctions, often leaving unsuspecting occupants in danger of losing their homes).

United Community Housing Coalition is a Michigan non-profit dedicated to the prevention of homelessness, and Michigan Legal Services is a Michigan non-profit anti-poverty advocacy group, both active in Detroit for the past 40 years. In 2003, at the behest of the late Detroit City Council President Maryann Mahaffey, they formed the Tax Foreclosure Prevention Project, through which they have helped well over 10,000 families keep their homes.

Contacts: Michael Davisson, 313-963-3310 x230, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Sarah Hackett, 248-719-1733 or 313-341-1931, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Frank Rashid, 313-927-1448, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

### ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1905, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning. The College’s commitment to the city of Detroit comprises an institutional mission and vision for developing urban leaders. The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit. 8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221www.marygrove.edu

Marygrove sophomore Jeremy Otto is featured on We Are the Independents, an outreach program of the Michigan Colleges Alliance – a collective of the top 15 excellent independent colleges and universities located throughout Michigan—including Marygrove College.

Here is Jeremy’s profile: My name is Jeremy Otto and I'm a sophomore at Marygrove College. My major is business, but I hope to get into the broadcasting field when I graduate. This is my sixth year working in broadcasting, a journey which began when I was a freshman at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. At first I was a little leery to go on-air, but this is something that has grown into a passion for me. I worked very hard in high school, covering 60-80 games alone for U of D while also serving as the network, play-by-play voice for the Detroit Catholic League video championship productions beginning my sophomore year.

Following graduation, I was "recruited" by Marygrove’s Sports Information Director, Tim Johnson, to help form a deeper broadcasting footprint at the college. When I arrived here as a freshman, Marygrove was only covering men's and women's basketball. With my help, the department expanded to cover men's and women's soccer and volleyball. This year, we added the element of live video to every home broadcast; we will also add baseball to the list of sports covered, since the program is in its first year of existence. Besides serving the role of play-by-play announcer for all broadcasts on the Mustang Sports Network, our live streaming platform, I also work as a student sports information assistant. This involves a wide range of duties including producing video content and updating social media for the athletic department. This year I also had the opportunity to call the Detroit Catholic High School League Game of the Week on 92.7 FM & 1400 AM, The Patriot. I also work with CMNTV as a fill-in announcer for their coverage of high school sports on local television in Oakland County.

What motivates you to succeed? What motivates me to succeed at Marygrove are the opportunities that have already been presented to me and the ones waiting ahead. I realize the only way to open up new doors is to keep working hard—or even harder than I am right now.

What is your biggest accomplishment? I have a few: one would be simply how fast the Mustang Sports Network has grown and improved in the less than two years it has been in existence. We continue to add elements to the broadcast to make it the best it can be. Another accomplishment would be getting my first radio gig at 92.7 & 1400. Before this year, all my work had been broadcasted via streaming.

What is your next big goal? My next big goal is to break into the broadcasting industry after I graduate. I want to build upon the experience I already have and then take it to the next level.

Why do you believe it is important to choose your own path?This is important because every person is a unique; no one has the same path to success or life. It is ok to look up to and emulate people in your potential field, but it is important to realize that you are your own person.

What is your favorite place on campus? The athletic facilities and offices. This is where I spend the majority of my time…I love what I do!

The We Are the Independents campaign was launched in late 2014 to promote the benefits Michigan’s private colleges have to offer. To learn more about it and the Michigan Colleges Alliance, go to: http://wearetheindependents.com/

### ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1905, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning. The College’s commitment to the city of Detroit comprises an institutional mission and vision for developing urban leaders. The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit. 8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221www.marygrove.edu

Partnership Brings Southwest Detroit High School Students to Marygrove

DETROIT, Jan. 21, 2015—On Thursday, Jan. 22, approximately 58 Detroit Cristo Rey High School (DCRHS) students, along with their parents, will meet on the campus of Marygrove College to be oriented into a dual enrollment program that will help them earn college credit when they become seniors in the fall of 2015.

Detroit Cristo Rey seniors with the skills to succeed in college, and was inspired by local businessman Frank Venegas, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Detroit-based Ideal Group. Venegas was instrumental in the growth of Cristo Rey, and his love of the students has led him to his latest venture, helping Cristo Rey students get ready for college

The program brings in over 50 seniors each week to Marygrove’s campus, Monday through Thursday. Students take humanities and math courses taught by Marygrove professors and are in class alongside Marygrove students. This provides Cristo Rey students with opportunities to not only earn free college credit, but helps equip them for their freshman year through real college experiences.

Venegas’ idea to send Cristo Rey students to Marygrove is based on the close connection he feels to its students. He also saw a need to help support students who are often the first in their families to attend college. Higher education is a new experience for many students’ families—some find the process of preparing for college difficult and scary. Sending students to Marygrove gives these students the tools they need to be better prepared.

“Frank comes from a place that has a deep love for the community and an amazing depth of commitment to Detroit,” said Marygrove President Dr. David J. Fike. “His enthusiasm is infectious and his idea was a great one, so we committed to make it happen. In developing the program, we took a conscious developmental approach consistent with best practices in education, and specially designed courses with these students in mind. We are focused on giving them the opportunity to hone their college skills, keep them prepared, and orient them to paths of study.”

Dual-enrollment programs are a cost-effective way to earn college credit while still in high school, but Marygrove and Detroit Cristo Rey have an innovative approach to the current paradigm. “This isn’t just an introduction to the college catalog, or a way for students to pile up college credits. We are immersing them in the college experience,” Fike explained.

Now in its second year, the program has proven successful. In fact, seven students who participated in the program last semester are currently enrolled at Marygrove College and enrollment is up for the winter semester as well. Additionally, the College has expanded its curriculum and the students are pleased with their progress.

Karina Cebrero-Moreno, a former DCRHS student who took advantage of the dual-enrollment program and is currently a full-time student at Marygrove, has described the program as a “huge blessing,” one that challenged her, helped make the transition from high school to college much easier, and allowed her to get ahead. “As a dual-enrollment student, I was lucky because I was able to form relationships with Marygrove professors while I was still in high school,” said Cebrero-Moreno. “I got to know them; I got to know the students, so once I became a Marygrove student I didn’t feel alone. I wasn’t lost in my classes and I already knew where I wanted to go with my education.”

Although DCRHS, located in southwest Detroit, educates students from forty zip codes, the student population is predominantly Hispanic. Venegas, with an acute cultural knowledge of his community, understands how significant family is to DCRHS students; some are reluctant to go off to college and leave their families to pursue higher education. “Marygrove is a perfect fit for these kids,” Venegas says. “Family is important to them. They can stay at home, work at home, help at home, and go to school locally, all while earning a college degree.”

ABOUT IDEAL GROUP Founded in 1979, the Ideal Group employs nearly 500 people with annual revenues approaching $250 million. The Ideal Group consists of seven companies including, Ideal Contracting, Ideal Setech, Ideal Setech Share-The-Spare, Ideal Shield, Ideal Surplus Sales and newly formed Ideal Utility Supply. Ideal is a ten time General Motors Supplier of the Year, has received multiple safety awards and is a member of the Michigan Minority Supplier Diversity Council (MMSDC), Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MHCC) and the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. Located in Southwest Detroit, the Ideal Group believes in taking care of the community in which it resides. Using this philosophy, Ideal Group works with non-profits in Southwest Detroit including Detroit Cristo Rey, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC), LA SED, Ser Metro, Southwest Environmental Vision (SDEV), and private projects such as Cadillac Urban Gardens on Merritt and Scarcyny Park & Gardens. For more information, visit www.weareideal.com.

ABOUT DETROIT CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL Detroit Cristo Rey High School is a coed Catholic high school that provides high-quality college preparatory education to students from economically disadvantaged families in Detroit. The school is sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Congregation of St. Basil. Cristo Rey utilizes a longer school day and year, academic assistance, and counseling to prepare students with a broad range of academic abilities for college. All students at Cristo Rey participate in a work study program through which they finance the majority of the cost of their education, gain real world job experience, grow in self-confidence, realize the relevance of their education, and look forward to a brighter future.

### ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1905, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning. The College’s commitment to the city of Detroit comprises an institutional mission and vision for developing urban leaders. The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit. 8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221 www.marygrove.edu www.sashacenter.org

Marygrove College Announces Commitment to Expand College Access at White House Event

DETROIT, Dec. 4, 2014—Today, Marygrove College President Dr. David J. Fike will join President Obama, the First Lady, and Vice President Biden along with hundreds of college presidents and other higher education leaders to announce new actions to help more students prepare for and graduate from college.

The White House College Opportunity Day of Action helps to support the President’s commitment to partner with colleges and universities, business leaders, and nonprofits to support students across the country to help our nation reach its goal of leading the world in college attainment.

Marygrove College, along with fellow member institutions of the Yes We Must Coalition (Ferrum College, Trocaire College, Keuka College, Mount Aloysius College, Union College, Bethune-Cookman University, Paul Quinn College, and Metropolitan College of New York), have committed to increase graduation rates from low-income and first generation students by at least 1,000 additional graduates by 2020.

The Yes We Must Coalition is a three-year-old organization of small, non-profit, private colleges and universities where 50 percent or more of each campus’ undergraduate enrollment is Pell-eligible. The Coalition’s purpose is to share resources, information and promising practices to improve the success of low-income and first generation students and to be a voice for these students in the policy arena.

To help schools in the coalition reach their completion goal, Yes We Must will create an Institute that will work with campuses to develop implementation plans and outcome measures focused in three key areas to build greater support to disadvantaged students. The Coalition will:

Improve the curriculum-to-career connection from the beginning of the academic journey and strengthening the career services offered to students throughout their college career; and

Develop more streamlined and deliberate pathways to graduation and use learning outcomes assessments that are relevant for these student populations.

Key researchers and facilitators in the Coalition will assist campuses in researching evidenced-based practices in each of the three areas, and the Institute will provide the opportunity to share, discuss, and adopt promising and effective practices across campuses. The Coalition anticipates seeing changes resulting from their work through the Institute to be implementation ready for students entering in the fall of 2016 with anticipated increases in graduation outcomes from 2020 onward.

Today’s participants were asked to commit to new action in one of four areas: building networks of colleges around promoting completion, creating K-16 partnerships around college readiness, investing in high school counselors as part of the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative, and increasing the number of college graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The President will announce new steps on how his Administration is helping to support these actions, including announcing $10 million to help promote college completion and a $30 million AmeriCorps program that will improve low-income students’ access to college. Today’s event is the second College Opportunity Day of Action, and will include a progress report on the commitments made at the first day of action on January 14, 2014.

Expanding opportunity for more students to enroll and succeed in college, especially low-income and underrepresented students, is vital to building a strong economy and a strong middle class. Today, only 9 percent of those born in the lowest family income quartile attain a bachelor’s degree by age 25, compared to 54 percent in the top quartile. In an effort to expand college access, the Obama Administration has increased Pell scholarships by $1,000 a year, created the new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college, limited student loan payments to 10 percent of income, and laid out an ambitious agenda to reduce college costs and promote innovation and competition.

### ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1905, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning. The College’s commitment to the city of Detroit comprises an institutional mission and vision for developing urban leaders. The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit. 8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221 www.marygrove.edu www.sashacenter.org